Page 29, for "did not visit," read "did not convey the settlers."
Page 41. The state of Van Diemen's Land may be inferred by the following evidence of Lieutenant Lord (1812), before the Committee of the Commons. "During eight or nine years we entirely depended on the woods. We had 2lbs. of biscuit weekly for thirteen months;"—"We had not a single death." "I have often myself been glad to go to bed for want of bread." Mr. Lord was sometime acting lieutenant governor—the writer has, during a long voyage which his gentlemanly deportment made pleasant, often heard him narrate the difficulties of those early days.
Page 56. The following extracts from various documents will bear out the statements in the text, in reference to the government proceedings of that day:—
Crossly, the government lawyer, was transported for putting a "fly in a dead man's mouth"—making a forged will. He drew up the early indictments. He got his pardon this way: he drew bills (£2000), on a man of straw in England. They were returned, but as a convict he could not be sued; therefore Governor King, to protect the creditors, gave him his pardon.—Judge Adkins' evidence on Johnstone's trial.
A person was ordered 500 lashes for sedition—Gazette, March 1807.
Bakers using flour above 20 per cent. were threatened to have their ovens demolished.—1806.
"A breach of regulations, made at the sole will of the Governor, was punished with 500 to 1000 lashes,"—Report House of Commons Committee, 1812.
"A man threatened to be as troublesome as Tom Pain, sentenced to 100 lashes, and to wear a label on his back with 'Thomas Pain,' written in large characters."—1806.
The following is Bligh's character of Judge Atkins—"He has been accustomed to inebriety—he has been the ridicule of the community, sentence of death has been pronounced in moments of intoxication, his determination is weak, his opinions floating and infirm, his knowledge of the law insignificant and subject to private inclination; and confidential cases of the crown, where due secresy is required, he is not to be trusted with." (Letter to Secretary of State.) Yet Atkins was his principle adviser.
Page 65. Major Abbot said, "people err greatly in reference to my court—some think it is a court of law—but it is not a court of law; some think it is a court of equity—but it is not a court of equity. It is a court of justice and right."